The X KXRX

Last updated
THE X KXRX
Type Radio network
Country
United States
AvailabilityInternational
Slogan Extreme Rock of Seattle
OwnerRadio Domination Streaming Network
Key people
Jayden Prince
Launch date
November 5, 2009
Official website
 KXRX.net

The X KXRX is a modern rock public radio station playing a mix of new and old music online via Winamp, RealAudio, Windows Media Player, and QuickTime. The station is based in Seattle, Washington and is owned by the Radio Domination Streaming Network (RDSN) and Rockstar Multimedia.

Winamp media player for Windows-based PCs

Winamp is a media player for Windows, macOS and Android, originally developed by Justin Frankel and Dmitry Boldyrev by their company Nullsoft, which they later sold to AOL in 1999 for $80 million. It was then acquired by Radionomy in 2014. Since version 2 it has been sold as freemium and supports extensibility with plug-ins and skins, and features music visualization, playlist and a media library, supported by a large online community.

RealAudio is a proprietary audio format developed by RealNetworks and first released in April 1995. It uses a variety of audio codecs, ranging from low-bitrate formats that can be used over dialup modems, to high-fidelity formats for music. It can also be used as a streaming audio format, that is played at the same time as it is downloaded. In the past, many internet radio stations used RealAudio to stream their programming over the internet in real time. In recent years, however, the format has become less common and has given way to more popular audio formats. RealAudio was heavily used by the BBC websites until 2009, though it was discontinued due to its declining use. BBC World Service, the last of the BBC websites to use RealAudio, discontinued its use in March 2011.

Windows Media Player software

Windows Media Player (WMP) is a media player and media library application developed by Microsoft that is used for playing audio, video and viewing images on personal computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system, as well as on Pocket PC and Windows Mobile-based devices. Editions of Windows Media Player were also released for classic Mac OS, Mac OS X and Solaris but development of these has since been discontinued.

Contents

History

According to the SeaTac Radio Blog [1] The X derived its name in homage to the now silent KXRX 96.5 FM Seattle which debuted January 5, 1987 with the largest entry level ratings share in Seattle market history.[ citation needed ]

Seattle City in Washington, United States

Seattle is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With an estimated 744,955 residents as of 2018, Seattle is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region of North America. According to U.S. Census data released in 2018, the Seattle metropolitan area's population stands at 3.94 million, and ranks as the 15th largest in the United States. In July 2013, it was the fastest-growing major city in the United States and remained in the top 5 in May 2015 with an annual growth rate of 2.1%. In July 2016, Seattle was again the fastest-growing major U.S. city, with a 3.1% annual growth rate. Seattle is the northernmost large city in the United States.

KXRX's relatively short tenure in the Seattle market was a momentous one, with "The X" establishing itself as one of the first major radio stations to play "grunge," a wave of popular music originating in the Pacific Northwest and soon spanning the globe. The station helped launch the careers of groups such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains, and featured a high-profile corps of deejays that included Mike West, Robin Erickson, John Maynard, and British-born Norman B. (Batley), who introduced listeners to "Seattle Blues," a Sunday night show that drew a large and devoted following. [2]

Grunge is a rock music genre and subculture that emerged during the mid-1980s in the Pacific Northwest U.S. state of Washington, particularly in Seattle and nearby towns. The early grunge movement revolved around Seattle's independent record label Sub Pop and the region's underground music scene. By the early 1990s its popularity had spread, with grunge bands appearing in California, then emerging in other parts of the United States and in Australia, building strong followings and signing major record deals.

Nirvana (band) American rock band

Nirvana was an American rock band formed in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1987. It was founded by lead singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic. Nirvana went through a succession of drummers, the longest-lasting and best-known being Dave Grohl, who joined in 1990. Though the band dissolved in 1994 after the death of Cobain, their music maintains a popular following and continues to influence modern rock and roll culture.

Pearl Jam American band

Pearl Jam is an American rock band formed in 1990 in Seattle, Washington. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder, Mike McCready, Stone Gossard, and Jeff Ament. Since 1998, the band has also included drummer Matt Cameron. Boom Gaspar (keyboards) has also been a session/touring member with the band since 2002. Drummers Jack Irons, Dave Krusen, Matt Chamberlain, and Dave Abbruzzese are former members of the band.

Bart Becker of The Seattle Weekly wrote that Norman B. was "stirring up the Sunday night radio waves" and "breaking the sound barrier." [3] Prompted by the success of "Seattle Blues," KXRX unveiled a new weekly new music show hosted by Norman B. called, "The Xtra Hour." [4]

After seven years of "feisty, personality-oriented album rock," KXRX was sold by Shamrock Broadcasting to Alliance Broadcasting. [5]

Streaming

Streaming costs are subsidized by private donations and Rockstar Multimedia in an effort to keep The X as commercial free as fiscally possible. Technology services such as the web site and related IT services have been provided through a strategic partnership with PacWest Media. [6]

Programs

For the bulk of its schedule KXRX (The X) broadcasts a commercial free mix from a variety of rock genres which include Alternative, Classic, Indie, Modern, and Metal. The station also offers several content driven shows.

The Marty Riemer Show

The Marty Riemer Show hosted by Marty Riemer [7] & Jodi Brothers who have worked at KMTT, KZOK, KJR, KROK, and KNDD. Marty may be best known for being the first person to report the death of Nirvana's Kurt Cobain when he worked at KXRX-FM in the 1990s.[ citation needed ] Beau Roberts was on air with Marty, the day the story broke.

DubRRadio Show

DubRRadio Show hosted by Rick "Double R" Robertson [8] who has worked for WNEW-FM, WQHT, KQBZ, and KISW where he became well known for several outrageous on air stunts one of which left him with a WNBA Seattle Storm logo tattoo on his butt.[ citation needed ]

The Big Rock Show

The Big Rock Show hosted by Tina Peek [9] one of the rock music journalists in the country, each week Tina brings in musicians and other industry types to chat about everything music.

Green Jellÿ

The band Green Jellÿ owes its big break to The X KXRX. The station in Seattle, Washington, played "Three Little Pigs" as a joke, but instead the station's phones lit up and it became a local hit. This caused Zoo to issue the EP Green Jellö SUXX, consisting of four songs from Cereal Killer, which in turn led to "Three Little Pigs" becoming a hit on The Box (A pay-per-play cable-TV jukebox network). By early 1993, the song was gaining airplay around the country, and after appearing on MTV Headbanger's Ball, everything exploded. MTV added the video and the full-length audio album Cereal Killer Soundtrack was finally released in April 1993.

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References

  1. ↑ SeaTac Radio Blog http://haveyoureadmyblog.com/blog/2010/11/kxrx-net-new-media-pays-homage-to-great-radio/
  2. ↑ "Seattle Blues," Jim Kelton, Everett Herald, November 18, 1988
  3. ↑ "Stirring Up Sunday Night Radio Waves: "Radio Rebel, Opinionated FM Deejay Norman B Breaks the Sound Barrier," Bart Becker, April 5, 1989
  4. ↑ "X-tra, X-tra, Read All About It," Seattle Weekly, February 22, 1989
  5. ↑ "KXRX Begins a Slow Fade As Top DJs Bid Farewell," Chuck Taylor, Seattle Times, May 27, 1994
  6. ↑ Company Website http://www.pacwestmedia.com
  7. ↑ Official Web Site http://www.martyriemer.com
  8. ↑ DubRRadio Show http://www.dubrradio.com
  9. ↑ Official Website http://www.thebigrockshow.net
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